“France hasn't experienced a situation like this since the end of World War II”

©picture alliance / MAXPPP | Thomas Padilla

France is in the grip of an unprecedented wave of wildfires. During a visit to the heavily affected Fontainebleau Forest, President Emmanuel Macron said that the country “hasn't experienced a situation like this since the end of World War II.” According to him, some 35,000 hectares of natural areas have already gone up in flames, including more than 2,000 hectares in the iconic forest southeast of Paris.

Macron spoke on site of a “difficult summer” and warned that the fire season is actually just beginning. He promised that the government would reallocate resources to reinforce the fire department and emergency services on the front lines. At the same time, he announced a fundraising campaign to restore and replant the Fontainebleau forest. “We care deeply about the forest,” he said. “We will rebuild it.”

Zero tolerance for arsonists

The president also made it clear that there will be absolutely no leniency for arsonists. “Zero tolerance” is the guiding principle, he emphasized, both in Fontainebleau and elsewhere in France. The widespread fires have shocked the country, especially since they broke out in multiple locations simultaneously. This has increased the pressure on emergency services, which are still working to extinguish the fires with the help of firefighters, civil defense, and aerial support. Although the fire in Fontainebleau is reportedly under control, it has not yet been completely extinguished. According to the authorities, approximately 10 percent of the forest has been destroyed since Sunday. It is remarkable that, despite the scale of the fires, there have been no civilian casualties—something Macron attributes primarily to the dedication of the firefighters and the cooperation across the country.

A deadly combination

At the same time, the investigation into the cause of the fires continues. On Tuesday, six people were arrested on suspicion of arson. Among them is an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter who reportedly confessed to starting a fire himself with a lighter and gasoline in Arbonne-la-Forêt. Another young man stated that he accidentally caused a fire by discarding a cigarette near La Faisanderie. A second suspect also confessed to involvement in new fire outbreaks. The combination of extreme drought, multiple fire outbreaks, and suspected arson makes the crisis particularly alarming. And with the busy Autoroute du Soleil expected to reopen on Thursday, France is gradually trying to return to normal, while the Fontainebleau Forest will bear the scars of this disaster for a long time to come.

©picture alliance / MAXPPP | Thomas Padilla